Hearing of Boğaziçi University students starts

  • actual
  • 15:26 17 March 2021
  • |
img
İSTANBUL - Seven students, two arrested and two under house arrest, appear before the judge today. They are facing charges over an image on display at the South Campus of Boğaziçi University as part of the protests against the appointed rector.
 
The trial of seven students over an image on display at the South Campus of Boğaziçi University in İstanbul started today (March 17).
 
The students, two arrested and two under house arrest, are facing charges over an image of the Kaaba, a sacred place in Islam, with rainbow flags at its corners and a Shahmaran figure on it.
 
While the students are also indicted "because the image was placed on the ground", the image in question was exhibited as part of the protests against Prof. Melih Bulu, the appointed rector of Boğaziçi University.
 
Before today's hearing, strict security measures were observed around the İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan. Independent MP Ahmet Şık, Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) MP Barış Atay, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Hüda Kaya, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) MPs Sera Kadıgil and Özgür Özel and CHP İstanbul Provincial Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu came to the courthouse to watch the hearing.
 
Upon the call of the Boğaziçi Solidarity platform, several students, academics and alumni of Boğaziçi University came together in front of the courthouse in Çağlayan and made a statement for the press.
 
Their statement briefly read:
 
RELEASE OUR STUDENTS
 
"We are here today to support our seven students who were taken into custody for protesting the illegitimate rector appointment to Boğaziçi University and arrested or released afterwards, pending trial.
 
"Since January 30, our two students have been deprived of freedom, two arrested in Metris Prison and two under house arrest. We would like to once again declare it to the public that we stand with our students.
 
"Since January 4, we, as the academics of Boğaziçi University, have been saying, 'We Don't Accept, We Don't Give up". We predicate it on the fundamental principles of Boğaziçi University, which explain our egalitarian and participatory tradition.
 
"The new rector's office, the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and the mentality of politics that they are entitled to aim to render the universal, pluralistic and democratic principles of our university null and void.
 
"In line with this aim, they define the opposition and any type of social incident as a matter of public order and pursue policies of securitization.
 
"There is no problem of public order. The right of the university constituents, united or separated, to criticize the policies concerning Boğaziçi University has been guaranteed by the Constitution.
 
"Our students are portrayed as criminals and suspects in the eyes of society. By doing this, they attempt to legitimize forceful and oppressive methods at Boğaziçi University, as is the case in Turkey in general.
 
"Criticism and protest is a right. We do not accept the charges brought against our students who used these rights. We demand that our students be released immediately and, with the new semester starting tomorrow, we demand that they start their education without losing any more time."

View More Articles

07/08/2021
09:34 Rotating hunger strike on day 254
06/08/2021
15:26 No news from women politicians detained in Hewlér
15:25 New application submitted by Öcalan's attorneys, family and guardian
09:38 Rotating hunger strike in prisons enters day 253
09:37 Murderer of seven Kurds, Altun arrested
05/08/2021
11:33 Racist group intercepting cars in Aydın lynched 3 people
10:10 Racist groups intercepted HDP Co-Chair
09:53 Rotating hunger strike in prisons enters day 252
09:53 Bülbül: Those who burned the people in Madımak hotel are burning the forests
09:19 Statement of KCK regarding the forest fires in Turkey
09:18 Forest fire in Muğla: Flames reach thermal plant, evacuation begins
04/08/2021
20:01 Killer of Kurdish family of 7, Altun caught after 6 days
18:11 July report of DFG: 15 journalists subjected to violence in a month
17:20 Lawyer of Kurdish family killed in Konya: The massacre was planned in a Whatsapp group
14:40 Emine Şenyaşar couldn't make it to the sit in: My mother can not handle this anymore
14:39 Lawyers of Öcalan submit new application to visit İmralı
11:54 Having killed Kurdish family of 7, Altun is on the run for 6 days now
11:46 Massacre in Ain Issa: Turkish army kills father and three kids
09:51 'Hotels are built on areas destroyed from fires in the west while police stations are built in the east'
09:51 Rotating hunger strike in prisons enters day 251
09:08 Fire advances to thermal power plant in Milas
03/08/2021
16:31 Only survivor of the Dedeoğulları family: It all started with them insulting the Kurds
13:34 Rotating hunger strike enters day 250
13:33 Perpetrator of the racist attack hasn't been caught yet 5 days after the massacre
13:10 Çetin Dedeoğulları from murdered family in Konya to give statement
12:34 Lawyers of Öcalan submit new application for a meeting with Öcalan
12:34 Şenyaşar Family: Everyone in Turkey are crying out for justice
12:34 MA reporter Sezgin tortured under custody: This is a state policy
02/08/2021
13:02 Şenyaşar family staging sit in in front of the courthouse, prosecutor on summer vacation
13:00 Relatives of Kurdish family murdered in Konya: We were attacked because we are Kurdish
10:16 Hunger strike in prisons enters day 249
10:15 Racist attack against Kurdish seasonal agriculture workers: Family had to leave their village
01/08/2021
11:42 Racist groups stopping people on the roads, looking for Kurds!
10:49 Mehmet Altun, perpetrator of the racist attack still at large:
31/07/2021
17:43 Relative of the murdered family: They will win if we cry
12:59 10 detained following racist attack
12:32 Perpetrator of 7 Kurds in Konya came as a guest, fired 20 bullets
12:32 Lawyer of murdered Kurds in Konya: Killer is in contact with the previous attackers
12:10 Journalists following racist massacre blocked by police
12:00 Record of Konya Police Chief Dinç: Hrant Dink murder, October 10 Massacre, Sontora murder and Konya Massacre
11:52 Call for participation in protest for the murder of 7 Kurdish people
11:51 Diyarbakır Bar starts Justice Watch following murder of 7 Kurds in Konya
11:35 Second racist attack on Kurdish Family: 7 people murdered
24/07/2021
12:48 3 politicians detained by the KDP, missing for 45 days!
11:15 Hunger strikes in prison enters day 240
11:14 Şenyaşar Family: Guardians of justice will always be there
23/07/2021
11:04 Autonomous Administration: Turkey violates Syria's independence
21/07/2021
15:40 HDP blames government for racist attack on Kurdish seasonal workers
15:33 Racist attack against Kurdish family: 1 person died
13:55 Şenyaşar Family: Let's put an end to this cruelty